Barrier device that is usable as a game net

ABSTRACT

A barrier device that is usable as a game net is able to act as a barrier against respiratory and/or salivary secretions. The barrier device is sanitizable and comprises a net element and a transparent barrier element. The net element and the transparent barrier element are reciprocally side by side, in such a manner that a plurality of meshes comprised in the net element faces the transparent barrier element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a barrier device that is usable as agame net, for example as a net for volleyball.

BACKGROUND ART

In the volleyball practice, the net is a fundamental element for theplayers. Not only does the net divide the court into two adjacentsectors (9×9 metres) that are intended to be occupied by opposing teams,but it is indispensable for the purposes of the dynamics of the gameinasmuch as it enables the players to benefit from a correct vision indepth of the movements of the ball with respect to the court.

A drawback of known volleyball nets (which drawback emerged during theSARS-CoV-2 pandemic that started in 2019) is intrinsically connected tothe structure thereof. Each volleyball net in fact consists of aninterlacement of threads that are reciprocally crossed and knotted so asto define free spaces, i.e. the meshes. Inevitably, the meshes of thenet are “transit routes” that are freely traversable by liquidsubstances such as for example the so-called droplets, i.e. theemissions of respiratory and/or salivary secretions in the form ofmicroscopic drops that are expelled from the oral cavity and/or therespiratory tract through the effect of coughing and/or sneezes.

In volleyball, an example of game situation in which the transit ofdroplets through the meshes of the net can occur extremely easily is theso-called “attack against block”, in which players of one team jump upnear the net and raise their hands and arms beyond the upper edge of thenet to intercept the ball hit by an opposing hitter. It is clear that,in the above situation, the distance between two players positioned atopposite sides of the net is particularly reduced and is thus so as topermit an undesired exchange of droplets between two or more players.

This becomes significantly dangerous if one of the players is, forexample, an individual who is asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive and isthus able to unknowingly spread the infection to other players.

Furthermore, regardless of the specific case of SARS-CoV-2, otherdangerous pathogenic microorganisms exist, such as for examplemeningococcus and pneumococcus, which a volleyball player could be anunknowing healthy carrier of and which he/she could thus transmit by thedroplets.

Briefly, the only manner of preventing, or at least minimizing, thepotential risk caused by the droplets would consist of preventing gamesituations like the one of the attack against block, which wouldnevertheless lead to a significant impoverishment in the dynamics of thegame.

Another drawback of known volleyball nets, which is also due to thestructure thereof, is the substantial difficulty of sanification. Infact, owing to the presence of empty spaces (the meshes of the net), itis not easy to apply suitably a cleaning or disinfecting product to thenet (for example by spraying or vaporizing the product) whilst the netis fitted to the corresponding supporting elements (poles). In fact, inorder to sanitize the net completely, it would be necessary to dismantlethe net from the poles, wrapping the net and immersing the net into acleaning or disinfecting solution. Nevertheless, the aforesaidprocedure, if applied, would imply a significant expenditure of time bythe operators employed to clean the court and the sporting equipmentused by the players.

In the light of what has been pointed out above, it is clear that thepersons skilled in the art (volleyball trainers and players, as well astrainers and players of other sports in which the use of a half-courtnet is required) feel a strong need for a game net that enables theabove-disclosed drawbacks to be overcome.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to improve known game nets, in particularvolleyball nets.

Another object is to provide a game net, in particular a volleyball net,that can be used under suitable safety conditions even in the playsituations in which the distance between players is such as to promotean undesired and risky exchange of droplets between the players.

A further object is to provide a game net, in particular a volleyballnet, that can be sanitized suitably and avoiding an excessiveexpenditure of time.

According to the invention, a barrier device is provided that is usableas a game net, as defined in claim 1.

Owing to the invention, the aforementioned objects are achieved,inasmuch as a barrier device is made available that is effectivelyusable as a game net, for example as a volleyball net, and is easilysanitizable.

The barrier device according to the invention comprises a net elementand a transparent barrier element, which are reciprocally side by sideso that the plurality of meshes forming the net element faces thetransparent barrier element. The transparent barrier element consists ofa strip of transparent flexible material. In this manner, near each ofthe meshes of the net element an adjacent portion is positioned of thetransparent barrier element and, accordingly, the empty space comprisedinside each mesh is “closed” by the adjacent portion of the transparentbarrier element.

Accordingly, when the barrier device according to the invention is inuse, the net element can always be visualized in an optimized mannerthrough the transparent barrier element, which enables the players tobenefit from a correct vision in depth of the movements of the ball withrespect to the court. At the same time, as the transparent barrierelement “closes” the meshes of the net element, suitable safetyconditions are assured also in the game situations in which the distancebetween the players is reduced (for example, attack against block)because a possible exchange of droplets between players is prevented.

Furthermore, unlike known game nets, in order to sanitize the barrierdevice according to the invention, it is not necessary to dismantle thebarrier device from the supporting poles and immerse the barrier devicein a cleaning or disinfecting solution. As the barrier device accordingto the invention has a substantially “continuous” structure—i.e. devoidof the empty spaces corresponding to the meshes of a known game net—anassigned operator can easily apply, for example spray or vaporize, acleaning or disinfecting product onto the surface of the barrier device,leaving the barrier device fitted to the poles. This enables aconsiderable time saving during cleaning of the court and of thesporting equipment.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the apparatus according to the invention can be bettercomprised and implemented with reference to the attached drawings thatillustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, fragmentary and incomplete schematic viewshowing an embodiment of the barrier device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective, fragmentary and incomplete schematic view,showing another embodiment of the barrier device according to theinvention;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are three front, fragmentary and incomplete schematic viewsof corresponding embodiments of the barrier device according to theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the context of the present description, as well as of the attachedclaims:

-   -   the terms “game net” and “net for sporting use” are considered        to be synonyms and can be used in a reciprocally interchangeable        manner;    -   the term “droplet” defines an emission of respiratory and/or        salivary secretions in the form of microscopic drops, these        microscopic drops being expelled from the oral cavity and/or        from the respiratory tract of a person when the person sneezes        and/or coughs and remaining suspended in the ambient air for a        variable time;    -   the adjective “sanitizable” indicates the ability of an object,        such as for example a game net, to be subjected to cleaning        and/or disinfection procedures.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a barrier device 1 according to the invention,comprising a net element 2 and a transparent barrier element 3. Thebarrier device 1 is suitable for the use as a volleyball net (FIG. 1-4)or as a mini-volleyball net (FIG. 5).

The transparent barrier element 3 comprises a pair of strip portions 4,4 a, each of which is shaped in the form of a rectangular strip and ismanufactured from a suitable transparent and flexible material of knowntype, for example transparent PVC, such as Crystal type-PVC. The stripportion 4 comprises a pair of reciprocally parallel and opposite sides5, 6. Similarly, the strip portion 4 a comprises a pair of reciprocallyparallel and opposite sides 5 a, 6 a.

Although in FIGS. 1 and 2 the two strip portions 4, 4 a are shownreciprocally divergent and spaced apart, in the barrier device 1 that isready for use the two strip portions 4, 4 a are reciprocally side byside and parallel, because the two strip portions 4, 4 a are weldedtogether along respective peripheral edges 4 b and 4 c duringmanufacture. In this manner, a two-layer transparent barrier element 3is obtained.

In one embodiment of the barrier device 1 that is suitable for use involleyball (FIGS. 1-4), each strip portion 4, 4 a has the dimensionsshown in the following Table 1:

TABLE 1 Length (longitudinal dimension) 10 m Width (transversedimension) 100 cm Thickness 0.5 mm

In an embodiment of the barrier device 1 that is suitable for use in themini-volleyball (FIG. 5), each strip portion 4, 4 a has the dimensionsshown in the following Table 2:

TABLE 2 Length (longitudinal dimension) 7 m Width (transverse dimension)70 cm Thickness 0.5 mm

Each strip portion 4, 4 a can be manufactured by using known methods andapparatuses for producing plastic film materials.

The net element 2 comprises a drawing of a net 2 b defining a pluralityof meshes 2 a. In other words, the net element 2 consists of a drawing,which reproduces a volleyball net consisting of the plurality of meshes2 a.

By way of non-limiting example, in the drawing of a net 2 b, thedimensions of each mesh 2 a can be the following:

-   -   3 cm×3 cm    -   4.5 cm×4.5 cm    -   7 cm×7 cm    -   10 cm×10 cm.

The drawing of a net 2 b is printed by using methods and apparatuses ofknown type, for example by digital printing, on the strip portion 4.More exactly, the drawing of a net 2 b is printed on the side 5 thatfaces, and is thus in contact with, the adjacent and opposite side 5 aof the adjacent strip portion 4 a. In other words, the drawing of a net2 b, and thus the net element 2, is interposed between the two stripportions 4, 4 a.

In this manner, the net element 2 is protected from a possiblemechanical wear, i.e. from possible damage produced by the ball when thelatter knocks against the outer surface of the barrier device 1.Furthermore, the net element 2 is protected from a possible chemicalwear, which could be caused by detergents and disinfectants used toclean and sanitize the barrier device 1.

It should be noted that, when the drawing of a net 2 b is printed on thestrip portion 4 a, it is further possible to print logos or messages onthe strip portion 4 a, which enables the barrier device 1 to becustomized according to the needs of the user.

The barrier device 1 further comprises other elements, the presence ofwhich is required in regulation volleyball nets: two horizontal bands 7,8 (i.e. two bands that are parallel to the strip portion 4, 4 a) inwhite PVC, which extend along the opposite horizontal portions of theperipheral edges 4 b and 4 c; two vertical bands 9 (i.e. two bands thatare perpendicular to the strip portion 4, 4 a) in white PVC (only one ofwhich is shown in FIG. 1), which have a width of 5 cm and are positionedat the side lines of the court (not shown); two vertical end bands 13(shown in FIGS. 3-5) in black PVC, which have a width of 3 cm; twotwo-colour antennas 10 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1), that aremanufactured in a suitable shockproof material (for example glass fibre)and protrude vertically from the horizontal band 7 by 70 cm. Theaforesaid horizontal and vertical bands can be made by using a knownplastic film material other than PVC.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the barrier device 1 that differs from theembodiment of FIG. 1 only by the fact that the drawing of a net 2 b isprinted both on the side 5 of the strip portion 4, and on the adjacentand opposite side 5 a of the adjacent strip portion 4 a. Therefore, allthe elements of the barrier device 1 previously disclosed with referenceto the FIG. 1 are indicated by the same reference numbers in FIG. 2 andare not disclosed again below.

For the net element 2, embodiments are possible that are different fromthe drawing of a net 2 b, which embodiments are described below stillwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

In one embodiment, the net element 2 comprises a plurality of threads 2c (FIG. 1; FIG. 2), which are reciprocally intertwined or knotted anddefine the plurality of meshes 2 a. In other words, in this embodiment,the net element 2 comprises a net of known type, which is interposedbetween the two strip portions 4, 4 a.

In another embodiment, the net element 2 comprises a plurality of strips2 d, which are reciprocally crossed so as to define the plurality ofmeshes 2 a. These strips 2 d consist of an adhesive material of knowntype—for example, a two-sided adhesive—and are glued onto one or more ofthe sides 5, 6, 5 a, 6 a of the strip portions 4, 4 a. This embodimentenables logos and/or messages to be easily printed on the net element 2.

In a further embodiment, the net element 2 comprises a plurality of LEDstrips 2 e, which are reciprocally crossed so as to define the pluralityof meshes 2 a. It is possible to use LED strips 2 e of known type, forexample LED strips that are 4 mm in width and interposed between the twostrip portions 4, 4 a.

As a person skilled in the art can easily understand, the barrier device1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can also comprise a single-layer transparentbarrier element 3, namely a transparent barrier element 3 comprising asingle strip portion 4, or 4 a. In this case, the net element 2 isprinted, glued or positioned (depending on the used embodiment of thenet element) at one or both sides 5, 6 of the strip portion 4, or at oneor both sides 5 a, 6 a of the strip portion 4 a.

By way of non-limiting example, the weight of the barrier device 1 forvolleyball (length: 10 metres) comprising the two-layer transparentbarrier element 3 is 15 kg, the weight of the barrier device 1 forvolleyball comprising the single-layer transparent barrier element 3 is8 kg and the weight of the barrier device 1 for mini-volleyball (length:7 metres) comprising the single-layer transparent barrier element 3 is 6kg.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the front aspect of the barrier device according tothe invention in three different embodiments (the drawings shown are notin the same scale). All the elements of the barrier device according tothe invention previously disclosed with reference to the FIG. 1 areindicated by the same reference numbers in FIGS. 3 to 5 and are notdisclosed again below.

FIG. 3 shows a barrier device 1 for volleyball like that of FIG. 1, inwhich the net element 2 comprises a plurality of meshes 2 a havingdimensions: 4.5 cm×4.5 cm. FIG. 4 shows a barrier device 1 a forvolleyball, in which the net element 2 comprises a plurality of meshes 2a having dimensions: 10 cm×10 cm. FIG. 5 shows a barrier device 1 b formini-volleyball, in which the net element 2 comprises a plurality ofmeshes 2 a having dimensions: 7 cm×7 cm.

Each barrier device 1, 1 a, 1 b is fitted to a respective pair ofsupporting poles 11 by a steel cable 12 a (arranged above) and a fabriccable 12 b (arranged below). The steel cable 12 a can be replaced with acable of another known material, which is able to support suitably thebarrier device 1, 1 a, 1 b. As highlighted by the aforesaid FIGS. 3-5,after being fitted to the supporting poles 11, the barrier device 1, 1 aor 1 b has an appearance that is substantially indistinguishable fromthat of a known volleyball net or mini-volleyball net. In use, namelyduring a match or a training session, the players can benefit from acorrect vision in depth of the movements of the ball with respect to thecourt.

Furthermore, once the match or training session has terminated, anassigned operator can easily apply, for example vaporize, a cleaning ordisinfecting product onto the surface of the barrier device 1, 1 a or 1b whilst the barrier device 1, 1 a or 1 b is fitted to the supportingpoles 11. A disinfectant/detergent of known type (Rifrax San) containingalcohol, anionic and non-ionic surfactants and sodium 2-phenyl phenolatecan for example be used as a suitable product.

From what has been disclosed and exemplified above, it can be statedthat the barrier device according to the invention enables the prior artdrawbacks to be overcome easily and multiple advantages to be obtained.

Possible variations on and/or additions to what has been disclosed aboveand/or what has been illustrated in the attached drawings are possible.For example, although the embodiment of the invention disclosed withreference to FIGS. 1-5 is suitable for being used as a volleyball net ormini-volleyball net, a person skilled in the art will easily understandthat, by varying the dimensions of the net element 2 and of thetransparent barrier element 3, it is possible to manufacture a game netthat is suitable for use in other versions of volleyball, such asbeach-volleyball or snow-volleyball, or a game net that is suitable foruse in a sport different from volleyball, such as badminton or tennis.

1. Sanitizable barrier device, that is usable as a game net and is ableto act as barrier against respiratory and/or salivary secretions, saidbarrier device comprising a net element and a transparent barrierelement, said net element and said transparent barrier element beingreciprocally side by side so that a plurality of meshes comprised insaid net element faces said transparent barrier element.
 2. Barrierdevice according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of meshes comprisedin said net element is in contact with said transparent barrier element.3. Barrier device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent barrierelement comprises a strip portion made of transparent material, said netelement being flanked to one of the two sides of said strip portion. 4.Barrier device according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of meshescomprised in said net element is in contact with one of said two sidesof said strip portion.
 5. Barrier device according to claim 1, whereinsaid transparent barrier element comprises a pair of strip portions madeof transparent material, said net element being interposed between tworeciprocally facing sides of said strip portions of said pair. 6.Barrier device according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of meshescomprised in said net element is in contact with one or both of saidreciprocally facing sides of said strip portions of said pair. 7.Barrier device according to claim 4, wherein said net element comprisesa drawing of a net defining said plurality of meshes, said drawing of anet being printed on one or both of said sides of said strip portion. 8.Barrier device according to claim 6, wherein said net element comprisesa drawing of a net defining said plurality of meshes, said drawing of anet being printed onto one or more of said sides of said strip portionsof said pair.
 9. Barrier device according to claim 3, wherein said netelement comprises a plurality of threads that are reciprocallyintertwined or knotted and define said plurality of meshes.
 10. Barrierdevice according to claim 5, wherein said net element comprises aplurality of threads that are reciprocally intertwined or knotted anddefine said plurality of meshes.
 11. Barrier device according to claim4, wherein said net element comprises a plurality of strips that arereciprocally crossed and define said plurality of meshes, said pluralityof strips comprising strips made of an adhesive material that are gluedonto one or both of said sides of said strip portion.
 12. Barrier deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein said net element comprises a plurality ofstrips that are reciprocally crossed and define said plurality ofmeshes, said plurality of strips comprising strips made of an adhesivematerial that are glued onto one or more of said sides of said stripportions of said pair.
 13. Barrier device according to claim 3, whereinsaid net element comprises a plurality of LED strips that arereciprocally crossed and define said plurality of meshes.
 14. Barrierdevice according to claim 5, wherein said net element comprises aplurality of LED strips that are reciprocally crossed and define saidplurality of meshes.
 15. Barrier device according to claim 1, whereinsaid transparent material is flexible.
 16. Barrier device according toclaim 1, that is usable as a game net in a game selected from the groupconsisting of volleyball, mini-volleyball, beach-volleyball,snow-volleyball, badminton and tennis.